Adventures In Grocery Shopping

I keep trying to remind myself not to judge other people.  It's not my job, I don't want that job, I don't need that job.  I was trying to assert my 43 year old independence by embarking on my grocery rounds ... solo.  Hey, it's summer ... it's possible!!  Yesterday morning I went through all of my coupons and the grocery store fliers from Sunday's newspaper.  I made my shopping lists for 4 different stores, paperclipped the appropriate coupons to the corresponding list, and ventured out into the great wide open!!  (Let me just say that we ... my region of Colorado ... finally got a little bit of rain yesterday.  Storm fronts moved in and out, the wind blew and the rain came down sideways.  There was no way in hell that I was going to complain about it though.  We desperately need the moisture in order to help the firefighters fight the war against all of the forest fires that are apocalyptically destroying our state at the moment.  But the weather does figure into my story.)

First stop: Target.  In an attempt to be smart about it all, I used my "preferred parking placard" and parked in a handicap parking space to save my legs that were still recovering from the dueling banjo episode.  Toilet paper, charcoal, and lighter fluid (yes, coupons for all of it!).  Knowing that it's my right hand that usually gives me fits when it's overworked, I hefted and toted the large bag of briquets with my left hand/arm.  Granted, the weight exceeded 10 lbs (my max lifting restriction), but I needed to do it.  I had to remind myself that, on occasion, I am capable of great feats.  (I am especially proud of myself when the Munchkins are around!! - 3 more days!!)  I pick them up, I hold them, I carry them, and my restrictions might as well not even exist!!)  Yes, I used a cart!!  I'm not coordinated enough to balance a 12 pack mega roll of TP, a 20 lb bag of charcoal and a bottle of lighter fluid.  I was so elated at myself that when I left the store, I treated myself to a frozen coffee drink ... well that and I knew I needed to re-up my caffeine levels.  SUCCESS!! (cue blowing wind and few rain drops)

Second Stop: King Soopers.  There are about 3 of them in my city but since I was already in the south end of town, I went to the one that is only a block away from Target.  Again, using my "preferred parking placard" I embarked on my journey through the store.  Fruit, sack o'potatoes, yogurt, milk, four 12-packs of pop (soda, if you're from the east coast, coke if you're from the south), cereal, tuna, bread, snacky-snacks, eggs, and Jiffy Pop ... all with coupons!!  I hauled the gallon of milk out of the cooler with my left hand (still trying to stay smart about everything), and I grabbed all four 12-packs with my left hand as well.  The store was packed with shoppers.  My anxiety about getting bumped, nudged, ran into, and elbowed was starting to rise but I made it to the checkout line just before my left hand went into a dystonic seizure.  It completely closed up on itself and started trembling uncontrollably ... and it was quite noticeable.  ("Ok, Jenn, just get through the line, get out to the car and get home ... you can make it!!)  As I was fumbling with my purse to retrieve my wallet for the coupons and credit card, this male hominid running the cash register says to me, "chop chop!"  Maybe he was having a bad day.  Maybe his wife had just left him (for obvious reasons to me) or maybe he got called in on his day off.  Who knows!  So I smiled and told him that I was doing my best under the circumstances.  (Let it goooooo Jennifer Lynn, just let it goooooo!!)  Boy Bagger bagged my 29 items for me but did not offer to help me out to my car.  Knowing I had already exceeded my physical limitations, I humbled myself and asked him for his help.  He looked passed me to the line of carts and people and promptly told me that there were too many people in line for him to leave.  I couldn't come up with any "maybes" for this douchebag.  Single-handedly, literally, i maneuvered the cart full of my purchases through the maze of other carts, chatty Cathys, and the line that was forming out of the bank (banks in the front of supermarkets are something else I don't get, but I digress), and as I finally exited the store I was greeted with nasty wind gusts and sideways rain.  Strike 3!!  Somehow, I think it was sheer will and determination, I got to my car and loaded the groceries into the backseat.  As I was about to push the cart over to the cart return area, another employee was wheeling a chain of carts back into the store and offered to take mine from me.  (Now that kid, I liked!!)


Driving home amid rain, wind and tears, I made my few phone calls to try to round up help with unloading my car at my house.  No answer, no answer, busy signal, no answer.  <sigh>  (This is why I have such a hard time asking for help, because when I need it the most, it's usually not available.  It's less heartbreaking to just do it myself and deal with the physical consequences later.)


Needless to say, today I will be enduring pool therapy to relax my muscles and increase my range of motion.  My left hand finally released about 20 minutes after I took my breakthrough meds yesterday.  I have faith that the Kroger/City Market Complaint Department will get my email today and do absolutely nothing about it.  I have faith that the one person that I can always count on is me since I have no way of being able to plan an episode/attack around everyone else's schedule.  I have faith that, as always, I will take care of my own ish through PT so that I can complete my shopping expedition with 2 stores to go.  I may be an RSDer, but I am also a very very very stubborn woman ... hear me roar!!!